Livelihoods Specialist will support the livelihoods component for a project in Distt D I khan. In coordination with line Department, the Livelihoods Specialist will design a 2-month intensive vocational and entrepreneurial skills training course to improve youth beneficiaries’ income generation capacities and facilitate their entry into the labor markets. Training may include computer skills, computer maintenance, carpentry, plumbing, embroidery, Motor cycle Mechanic etc. and will be delivered by certified trainers. The Livelihoods Specialist will support in conducting Agriculture activities e.g Kitchen Gardening, Climate smart Agriculture, Fodder session, Seed multiplication plots etc. In addition, continuously monitoring beneficiaries’ progress in skills training and in adjusting implementation accordingly to meet the skills-demand within the host communities. Specific responsibilities are as follows:
Prepare and implement Livelihood activities and ensure that they meet appropriate standards (CHS, SPHERE Standard Protection Principles and cluster guidelines);
Support the designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Livelihoods program activities in target areas with a particular focus on skills building, income generation capacities, labor force entry, and vocational training;
Ensure timely and technically sound planning, implementation and follow up of livelihood activities, including budgets, in the assigned area;
Enhance the quality of livelihood programming throughout the project cycle through initiatives such as beneficiary consultation, market analysis, and innovation, etc; and
Prepare and maintain up to date work plan and expenditures plans, in line with project and budget documents.
Provide day to day technical support to the livelihood projects staff, including coaching and staff capacity building.
Coordinate with local- and regional- level government officials and I/NGOs where required in relation to Livelihoods activitie
Conduct regular visits to project sites to carry out process monitoring as well as gather feedback from the beneficiary community about the implemented projects and submit a detail report about the activities.
Attend and observe each bidding process prior to grant implementation to ensure transparency on behalf of all stakeholders.
Attend and observe Community Consensus Jirgas (CCJ) and Project Oversight Committee (POC) meetings and document proceedings, decisions made and level of community participation
Compile comprehensive final project evaluations report based on information retrieved from the database and field.
Draft project specific M&E plans to be included in grant development and also coordinate with Program field staff to obtain field data pertinent to each indicator outlined in the project M&E plans at the post completion visit to the project site.
Identify and document success stories and case studies on extraordinary aspects of the project.
Carry out Broad Based Evaluation Studies on particular assigned grants related topics in line with the decisions made.
Support the M&E Manager and Supervisor in the collection of additional information from the field as required. ,
Designed and executed Agriculture related Economic Support activities as well as guided field team in establishing and distributing best practices in the area, consisting of agriculture, livestock, and service delivery activities.
Play a key role as a main point of contact for economic support activities and deliver excellent first-rate support to the M&E unit in devising monitoring mechanism for various Economic Support projects. Design agricultural related economic support and rural economic recovery activities on small and medium enterprise development and business-mentoring through liaison with Team Leader and Area Development Officer. Formulate guidelines to design and approve agricultural related economic support activities by community institutions.
Key Accomplishments
• Facilitated training according to project requirements and beneficiaries’ needs and integrated program development and implementation community-based approaches with gender sensitivity in all activities.
• Functioned in close collaboration with relevant line agencies, organization, and departments to generate and submit training manual, material, and weekly, quarterly and project completion reports for staff and community members.
• Designed project activities relating to agriculture, livestock, food and enterprise development, and coordinate with the program field offices on agricultural, livestock and service delivery related activities in Peshawar.
• Introduced market/ community led market assessment, value chain, and additional comparative analysis on multiple economic strengthening models and shared results with audiences in and outside program to enhance program quality.
Strategically positioned as union council main point of contact to ensure extensive coordination and support in developing, implementing and controlling district PEI and EPI social mobilization and communication planning (particularly SIAs) in the assigned district in collaboration with Department of Health and polio partners.
Contributed in UC-level and UPEC meetings and events with leaders before each SNID and facilitated development and implementation of UC social mobilization plan. Delivered excellent first-rate assistance to Social Mobilizers (SMs) in producing awareness and educating the community about on-going activities for polio eradication and routine immunization. Identified and communicated UC-level activities in district level communication plan to District Health Communication Support Officer. Competently hired, trained, and directed social mobilizers in high risk areas (HRAs) and introduced SM as well as refresher trainings with help of Line managers.
Key Accomplishments
• Assured effective communication and social mobilization planning in UC micro plans of highest quality through interaction with the WHO-supported Union Council Polio Worker (UCPW).
• Headed initial and on-going listing and mapping of underserved communities and maintained track of children under 5, vaccination status, as well as migration patterns and practices.
• Identified Information Education Communication (IEC) requirements and developed dissemination plans to assure effective communication on movement of high risk groups to UCOs/DHCSO/DMO in other districts.
Established market linkages of Potato and Swati Peach growers with larger buyers and processors and offered in-kind and technical assistance support to raise economic value of the target sectors.
Delivered strategic direction to the Sector Specialist to processors/growers for devising good agriculture practices which improved yield and quality potatoes and peach production. Built synergies with processors/growers to maintain record of cultural management practices during production of potatoes and peaches crop. Led concerned processors in mobilization of various clusters of growers to participate in the program, as well as retain inventory of commodities delivered to the processors/growers.
Key Accomplishments
• Offered hands-on administrative and logistics support in harvest and post harvest training program through consultation with processors and Horticulture Associate and compiled a list of trainees for participation in the training program.
• Examined trainings, such as pre and post training assessments of trainees, data compilation, and produced training report to assess overall improvements in knowledge and skills.
• Facilitated supervisor in event management and promotional activities including distribution of pamphlets, creating awareness amongst the potatoes growers to bring more land under peaches and potatoes cultivation; and encouraging team members to participate in the program for 2012 potatoes season.
• Undertake follow-up visits to potato field and peaches for monitoring and technical assistance to the processors/growers in adapting best cultural practices techniques during harvest & post-harvest handling of peaches/potatoes.
Proved instrumental in delivering leadership during rollout of M&E field activities associated with the FATA Development Program – Livelihoods Development (FDP-LD) in the FATA.
Organized and submitted comprehensive report and summery on every M&E visit to the Director M&E in a timely manner. Executed M&E and web-based project reporting system rollout into field by maintaining office space and internet connectivity for M&E Unit to facilitate FDP-LD regional offices. Expertly applied information compiled from projects within the specific region to formulate and revise case studies while incorp0rating new information. Actively contributed in M&E Conferences and coordinated with organizations to assess and measure outcome of international development interventions similar to FDP-LD.
Key Accomplishments
• Gathered village profiles, baseline information and all relevant project data in the field through liaison with program implementation staff, including the field supervisors, DADOs, ADOs, and other staff.
• Created monthly and weekly visit plan for activities of component 1, 2 and 3 of FDP-LD as well as examined on-going schemes of component 1, 2 and 3 including soft livelihood activities of FDP-LD in FR Bannu and FR Lakki.
• Spearheaded the recording of project data into the PRS system, and steered field trips to project sites for on-site inspections in order to ensure proper project implementation and day labor payments.